BRUCE C WEARNE continues his look at I Thessalonians…
But brothers [and sisters] you have no need to be addressed about times and seasons [calendars and dates] for you already have a correct understanding of the day of the Lord, which comes as a thief in the night. Whenever anyone would say: “Peace and security!” then destruction comes upon them, suddenly and, just as it is with a pregnant woman with regard to her birth-pangs, they shall not escape [the travail]. But you, brothers [and sisters], are not in the dark as if that day would come upon you as a thief. For you are all children of light and children of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do but let us be watchful and sober. For those sleeping, sleep at night and those getting drunk do so also at night.
But since we are of the day let us keep alert, clothing ourselves with the breastplate of faith and love, and a redemptive helmet of hope, because, quite frankly, God did not appoint us to wrath [and vengeance], but to be fitted out with a redemptive outfit in our Lord Jesus Christ, the One who died on our behalf so that whether we keep watch [as those still alive] or sleep [as those gone before us] we might live together with Him. Therefore, stand together in bonds of close solidarity and build each other up, as you are already doing. – I Thessalonians 5:1-11/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne
PICTURE: Michal Kmit’/Unsplash
“[Paul’s] play on words emphasises that Christ died in order that whether, in our bodily life we are alert or asleep, we are safe in His hands – His purpose is that we might live with Him and share in His life.”
Paul, having told the Thessalonians what they needed to know about the guaranteed reciprocal solidarity of those who have ”gone before” with those of us who are “still living”, clarifies his comment by reference to the limitation that is upon us as creatures subject to the unfolding purposes of God Almighty. There’s no need for speculations based on some cosmic calendar – the sun and moon and stars have been given to us to tell the time according to our genuine daily and seasonal needs.
Those who have gone before are in the Lord’s care, as are those who are living, and the fulfilment of all things will be a great reunion because God Himself will take care to ensure the well-being of each one – “none shall snatch him out of my hand” (John 10:28).
When we look to the future, the account we give is filled with allusions – the time comes, necessarily, unexpectedly. It is beyond calculation, beyond the kind of prognosis that looks to the sky to tell what tomorrow’s weather will be or that relies upon knowledge of the seasons in order to prepare the ground for sowing of crops. The watchman on the city gate who announces “All is well! All is well!” is regularly outfoxed by the stealthy thief with disastrous results for the household. But those making such calls are ignoring the evident trials and tribulations, the groaning of all creation waiting for the full revelation of the children of God (Romans 8:22).
The word here for “sleeping” (‘KATHEUDO’) is a different “sleep” to the rest (‘KOIMOMENON’) of those who have gone before us. There are those who live impervious to the light and therefore can be said to be “sleeping on the job” when they are not “hitting the bottle”. They should have been alert, if they were to be faithful watchmen on the city gate, actively on watch, looking out for the coming of the great King upon the clouds of his train.
In developing this thought, Paul is at the limit of his use of words, because what he now says uses the same word (‘KATHEUDO’) to remind his readers that whatever their state, on watch or asleep, they are in the Lord’s care. His play on words emphasises that Christ died in order that whether, in our bodily life we are alert or asleep, we are safe in His hands – His purpose is that we might live with Him and share in His life.
This is your spiritual life, Paul says.
OPEN BOOK: I THESSALONIANS – “BUT SINCE WE ARE OF THE DAY…”
BRUCE C WEARNE continues his look at I Thessalonians…
But brothers [and sisters] you have no need to be addressed about times and seasons [calendars and dates] for you already have a correct understanding of the day of the Lord, which comes as a thief in the night. Whenever anyone would say: “Peace and security!” then destruction comes upon them, suddenly and, just as it is with a pregnant woman with regard to her birth-pangs, they shall not escape [the travail]. But you, brothers [and sisters], are not in the dark as if that day would come upon you as a thief. For you are all children of light and children of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as the rest do but let us be watchful and sober. For those sleeping, sleep at night and those getting drunk do so also at night.
But since we are of the day let us keep alert, clothing ourselves with the breastplate of faith and love, and a redemptive helmet of hope, because, quite frankly, God did not appoint us to wrath [and vengeance], but to be fitted out with a redemptive outfit in our Lord Jesus Christ, the One who died on our behalf so that whether we keep watch [as those still alive] or sleep [as those gone before us] we might live together with Him. Therefore, stand together in bonds of close solidarity and build each other up, as you are already doing. – I Thessalonians 5:1-11/transliteration by Bruce C Wearne
PICTURE: Michal Kmit’/Unsplash
“[Paul’s] play on words emphasises that Christ died in order that whether, in our bodily life we are alert or asleep, we are safe in His hands – His purpose is that we might live with Him and share in His life.”
Paul, having told the Thessalonians what they needed to know about the guaranteed reciprocal solidarity of those who have ”gone before” with those of us who are “still living”, clarifies his comment by reference to the limitation that is upon us as creatures subject to the unfolding purposes of God Almighty. There’s no need for speculations based on some cosmic calendar – the sun and moon and stars have been given to us to tell the time according to our genuine daily and seasonal needs.
Those who have gone before are in the Lord’s care, as are those who are living, and the fulfilment of all things will be a great reunion because God Himself will take care to ensure the well-being of each one – “none shall snatch him out of my hand” (John 10:28).
When we look to the future, the account we give is filled with allusions – the time comes, necessarily, unexpectedly. It is beyond calculation, beyond the kind of prognosis that looks to the sky to tell what tomorrow’s weather will be or that relies upon knowledge of the seasons in order to prepare the ground for sowing of crops. The watchman on the city gate who announces “All is well! All is well!” is regularly outfoxed by the stealthy thief with disastrous results for the household. But those making such calls are ignoring the evident trials and tribulations, the groaning of all creation waiting for the full revelation of the children of God (Romans 8:22).
The word here for “sleeping” (‘KATHEUDO’) is a different “sleep” to the rest (‘KOIMOMENON’) of those who have gone before us. There are those who live impervious to the light and therefore can be said to be “sleeping on the job” when they are not “hitting the bottle”. They should have been alert, if they were to be faithful watchmen on the city gate, actively on watch, looking out for the coming of the great King upon the clouds of his train.
In developing this thought, Paul is at the limit of his use of words, because what he now says uses the same word (‘KATHEUDO’) to remind his readers that whatever their state, on watch or asleep, they are in the Lord’s care. His play on words emphasises that Christ died in order that whether, in our bodily life we are alert or asleep, we are safe in His hands – His purpose is that we might live with Him and share in His life.
This is your spiritual life, Paul says.
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